VOLUNTARY TEACHERS IN MALAY IN GOVERNMENT SPECIAL EVENING CLASSES

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi asked the Minister for Education how many voluntary teachers in Malay in the Government Special Evening Classes are members of the Singapore Police Force, and whether the Malay Education Committee had been consulted before they were accepted.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, out of a total of 481 teachers who are dealing with Special Government evening classes in Malay, 201 from the Singapore Police Force offered their services in a voluntary capacity as far back as September, 1959, when the Ministry of Education started its mass literacy drive in respect of the national language. At that time, the offer made from the Ministry of Home Affairs was in the number of 630, made up of 450 from Malays, 100 from Chinese, 50 from Indians and 30 others who were prepared to assist the Government in its drive. In October 1959, the Minister for Education accepted the voluntary offer with grateful thanks, considering the fact that the new Government had in view a change in spirit in the new Police Force. Instead of confining their activities to Police duties, they were prepared to come forward to teach those who wish to learn the national language.

The Member for Ulu Pandan, who happens to be the Chairman of the Malay Education Committee, which assists me in the Ministry, was fully aware of this decision and was also a party to the discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Police Force which took place in November. In January this year, the Member for Ulu Pandan, as Chairman of the Malay Education Committee, conveyed the decisions of the Minister to this Committee and they in turn suggested that these voluntary teachers from the Police Force should also undergo a course of training just as the hundred-odd untrained teachers who were recruited by the Ministry of Education in September last year had to undergo.